Sustainable Peatlands for People and ClimateSPPC www.wetlands.org

A project implemented by Wetlands International,Deltares, University Gadja Mada, WI-Indonesia, WI-Malaysia,

Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)

NORAD financial support: 12.000.000 NOK

Presentation by Marcel Silvius

Further information: bas.tinhout@wetlands.org

SPPC goal

Enhanced awareness about the socio-economic, ecological and climate issues

of unsustainable developments in tropical peat swamp forest landscapes;

especially carbon emissions, land subsidence & related flooding issues

and options for stopping and reversing this

Inside primary peat swamp forest (Belait peat swamp forest, Brunei)

Palm oil and pulp wood plantations: Major drivers of peatland degradation in SE Asia

Peatlands: Threatened carbon stores

Peatlands store large amounts of carbon Peatland degradation leads to CO2 emissions which contribute to global warming

Current peatland

degradation results in

-6% of all global carbon

emissions

-25% of crop related

emissions

Indonesian peatlands: largest carbon source

Soil subsidence: The forgotten issue

Subsidence: Drained peat compacts and then oxidates into the air

Result: flooding & salt water intrusion: loss of arable land

CO2CO2

1. Prevent peatland degradation• Conservation

2. Rewet drained peatlands• Restoration

3. Paludiculture• Sustainable economic

development

Priorities for achieving sustainable landscapes and reducing emissions

Needed

4.Sustainable finance• REDD+ / Carbon markets

5.Policy embedding• Including safeguards for

biodiversity & social issues

Main target groupsIndustry–Palm oil sector: RSPO –Pulp wood sector

• APKI, RAPP/APRIL, APP

Governments of Indonesia & Malaysia-Central: relevant ministries, departments -Key peat provinces / states

International platforms-UNFCCC, IPCC

NGOs & Science sector-Local NGOs and universities

New P&C on peat & GHG

SPPC key activities• Strengthen science base on peat issues (subsidence, emissions)• Develop science based information• Target palm oil and pulp wood sectors to reduce and reverse their

impacts on tropical peatlands• Promote options for up-scaling of community-based approaches for

sustainable management and rehabilitation of tropical peatlands• Capacity building of NGOs/CSOs and key government agencies to

understand and address peatland issues• Promote investments in alternatives (e.g. Paludiculture) • Review and strengthen national REDD+ policies, and stimulate

private sector REDD+ investment • target regional and global policy platforms (UNFCCC, CBD) and

influential scientific and civil society platforms (IPCC, RSPO, IPS)

More information on www.wetlands.org

We need to

start a

paradigm shift

from

unsustainable

practices to

Net Positive

Impact